Awful trip to health visitor. Please help.

[fionnthedog]

My ds is 5 months (22 weeks) has always had low weight gain. Was born on 25th centile dropping rapidly to 9th. He's ebf and currently feeds around 5-6 times in the day plus once at night. He has been fairly consistently following 9th centile for the last few months and was finally allowed to only have him weighed monthly. Went today after a month and he's only put on 6oz in a month and I have to go fortnightly again until "he gets back up there".

I'm devastated and don't know what to d to get him back up there. Should I begin weaning early? Or switch to formula? He has had a cold the last two weeks and cut his first two teeth - would this impact weight gain?

I had one that put loads of weight on in the first 4 weeks, then 1oz in the next two weeks, then carried on like that.

It was always commented on and I felt it was all my fault for not doing things properly too.

Then one week after a stressful time weaning him when he didn't want it, I went the HV looked at his small weight gain and said 'Oh, that's normal, for him. Look he is following that centile........'

I took the next two very occasionally

I had awful experiences with Hv too with regards to my "small" baby. I was in tears after every visit but trusted my instincts and refused to put dd on formula.

Sounds like your dc doesnt need formula. Trust your instincts. Best of luck, i know how hard it is

When a new mum talks about not being 'allowed' to do something, it makes me grind my teeth in frustration. You're a grown woman and a parent to boot - who are these people to 'allow' you to do anything?!

Agree with everyone else who says you should trust your instincts. Of course rapid weight loss is a cause for concern, but this does sound as if he's been a bit poorly plus he hasn't dropped that much. You have milk if he needs it - formula isn't magically more likely to fatten him up.